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Show Stand on Power Discussed County's Position Questioned questions to be sent to UP & L for a response. Commissioner Dee Cowan agreed that the subject needs further study before the commission considers con-siders rescinding its resolution. Grimshaw closed his statement saying, "This seems to be a lot of work to ., go through to convince you gentlemen since the towns have voted through the Southwest Power Agency to condemn the system if necessary and can certainly do so without your help. We, the people represented however, would much rather have you on our side than against us." Responding to questions prepared by the Iron County Commission, President of the Parowan Valley pumpers Jess Pickett and Enoch City Councilman Worth Grimshaw presented information on how a locally owned and operated power system would serve the area. The representatives reviewed their information with the commission last Wed. They had met with the commission com-mission previously asking that the county rescind a resolution supporting sup-porting the purchase of CPNational's electric utility system by Utah Power and Light. The commission sent a copy of this resolution to the Public Service Commission about a month ago. "The real question still is, we the people at the commission meeting came to you as authorized representatives of Enoch, Cedar City, Parowan, Parowan Valley pumpers, Escalante Valley pumpers, stating that we spoke for the residents of our areas, wheich we stated are taxpayers tax-payers and with the exception of some Escalante Valley pumpers, are Iron County residents. We further stated that we represented the majority of the residents of Iron County and we now request the county commission of Iron County to lend their support to the municipal power issue by 1 ) withdrawing with-drawing and rescinding your letter of support for UP & L to the PSC and 2) by coming out in favor of municipal power," stated Grimshaw. Pickett objected to the commission's com-mission's request for information stating that in their resolution the commission had stated that they had "carefully weighed all information dealing with the issue," but were now asking for additional information. "This still brings us to the basic question: Why did you pass the resolution in question without answers an-swers to the requested information when you stated as pointed out above that you had weighed all the information?" in-formation?" questioned Pickett. Both men's answers to a list of seven questions from the county reviewed the issues of potential power sources, how the federation will work and what the ocunty's involvement in the purchase of CPN's system would . be. Grimshaw said that outlying county areas would be served by a rural electric association similar to the one now functioning in the Escalante Valley area. He reviewed the question of the loss of property taxes from an investor owned utility saying,"CPNational or UP&L do not pay property tax, nor provide a tax base. They collect tax from their consumers and pass it through to the county, state, etc . Each dollar paid the county by CPNational comes from the pocket of the CPN consumer." "I would say you have two choices: . 1 ) be honest with the taxpayer and put it on his mill levy where it should be, and where he can see it or 2) work out an arrangement with the cities, etc. to collect it for you so that it remains a hidden tax paid in the power bill as present,"continued Grimshaw. Commissioner James Clark said that the answers did not tell him what electricity in the area will cost five years from now. Grimshaw responded saying that no one can say what electrical costs will be at that time including UP & L. Clark also felt that some problems concerning the wages of electrical workers compared com-pared ' with other city workers could occur under a municipal system. Commission Chairman Grant Seaman called for. the county's |